Internet & WiFi

1. Ndax am na Wi-Fi fi?

   Is there Wi-Fi here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether Wi-Fi is available at a café, hotel, or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Ndax" functions as a question-introducing particle. "Am na" expresses existence or possession. Wi-Fi is widely available in urban Senegal

2. Lan la baatu Wi-Fi bi?

   What is the Wi-Fi password?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the Wi-Fi password

   Grammar Note

   "Baatu" literally means "secret" or "hidden word" and serves as a natural Wolof word for password. The English word "password" is also widely understood

3. Internet bi dafa yeex

   The internet is slow

   Usage

   Used to express that the internet connection is slow

   Grammar Note

   "Slow" is "yeex", used of slowness or delay — "day faral a yeex lool" ("it is often very slow"), "wahyu gi yeex a ñëw" ("the revelation was slow in coming"), and the nominal "Yeex googu" ("that delay"). Its opposite is "gaaw" ("fast"), giving the pair "dafa gaaw" (fast) / "dafa yeex" (slow). "Internet" is fully integrated as a loanword in Wolof. Note: "yees" does not mean "slow" but "new" ("àdduna gu yees gi" = "the new world", "meññeefam mu yees mi" = "its new fruit"), and has nothing to do with speed.

4. Bëgg naa jënd crédit

   I want to buy mobile data credit

   Usage

   Used when buying mobile data or airtime credit at a shop in Senegal

   Grammar Note

   "Crédit" is borrowed from French and widely used for mobile top-ups in Senegal. Major carriers are Orange, Free, and Expresso

5. Batri bi dafay jeex

   My phone battery is low

   Usage

   Used to indicate that your phone battery is running low and you may need to charge

   Grammar Note

   "Batri" is the battery. "Jeex" means "to run out / be used up" and "dafay" marks the present state. Note: "set" means "clean", not "out of battery"

6. Ndax am na ordinateer fi?

   Is there a computer here?

   Usage

   Used to ask whether a computer is available at an internet café or facility

   Grammar Note

   "Ordinateer" is borrowed from French "ordinateur" (computer). Internet cafés are common and affordable in Senegalese cities

7. Bëgg naa yónnee foto

   I want to send a photo

   Usage

   Used when you want to send a photo via messaging or social media

   Grammar Note

   "Yónnee" means "to send" (same word as in "dinaa la yónnee foto bi ci WhatsApp"). "Foto" is photo. Note: "askan" means "people / nation", not a picture

8. Connexion bi dafa instable

   The connection is unstable

   Usage

   Used to express that the internet connection is unstable or unreliable

   Grammar Note

   "Connexion" and "instable" are borrowed from French; "dafa" + adjective describes a state. Note: "bari" means "many", not "unstable" (slow is "yeex")

9. Jërejëf ci connexion wi

   Thank you for the connection

   Usage

   Used to thank someone for sharing their Wi-Fi or providing internet connection

   Grammar Note

   "Wi" is the definite article matching the noun class of "connexion". The structure "jërejëf ci [thing]" means "thanks for [thing]"

10. Bëgg naa charger sama telefon

    I want to charge my phone

    Usage

    Used to ask permission or find a place to charge your smartphone

    Grammar Note

    "Charger" is a French loan; the charger itself is "sarsëër". "Sama" = "my". Power outages occur in Senegal, so charge early. Note: "jaaxal" is the causative of "jaaxle" (to confuse), not "to charge"

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